The Muse Whispered

I have agreed to make a couple of quilts for traveling exhibitions. I have ideas but my muse is keeping the details to herself so I've been struggling. What to do? What to do? I can tell you that if you were one of my students, I would be able to walk you through this. Isn't it interesting what we can do for others? Anyway, I set aside the quilts that I have to make and did some deep breathing when suddenly I had an idea. It actually has the image  I was considering for one of the have to make quilts so I decided to make a 12-inch quilt. Here's my beginning. The background fabric is actually the back of a over-dyed fabric I purchased when I lived in Texas. It began life as a black and white poke-a-dot.  It's hand appliqued and hand embroidered. I'm happy! I'm hoping the flow of this piece will help me over come my struggle with the other quilts.

Las puntadas del alma

We have a name! My quilt group at the National Museum of Mexican Art has a name--The Stitches of the Soul/Las pantadas del alma. Everyone also got their heart block done for a group quilt we are creating. The energy and creativity levels are high. The food is incredible. I'm so excited to see the quilts they will be creating. I am blessed by knowing these women.

Before There was Writing

I have collected rocks most of my life. I can't explain it, they just speak to me. A couple of days ago I watched the Japanese movie Departures which is about Daigo, a cellist. Daigo's symphony shuts down so he is forced to return to the village where he was born. A typo in a want ad leads him to becoming an a.nakanshi or one who prepares the dead for burial. I know this all sounds depressing. In many ways, it is. However, it's a wonderful and moving movie. At one point, he takes his wife to the beach where he finds a small rock which he gives to her telling this story. Before there was writing, people would look for a rock that shows how they feel and present to a loved one. A smooth rock could show that the person is happy. I won't spoil the movie by sharing more. I did love the idea and the story. I wonder what my rocks say about me.

Stitching and Thinking

Thanks to everyone who wrote to ask me about my garden quilt. You  certainly make me feel supported, help keep me honest and on my creative path, and feeling less isolated (I'm such a homebody.). As you can see by the photo, I have been working. Yesterday was a little frustrating as I kept breaking needles (three in all). I find that all the stitching does cause me to think. I keep revisiting my encounter with my neighbor. What do I not see? And not just visually, what do I miss seeing about myself? I've had a couple of epiphanies lately (one quite painful) and I think this quilt has played a part. I have always found hand stitching to be a form of informative silent meditation so I remain thankful.

I also find it interesting that people keep asking me what my plans are for this piece, and how surprised they are when I tell them that I haven't a clue. It's the journey that I am enjoying. I'm not even sure how it is going to look in the end and to be honest, I like it that way.


On the cleaning front, yesterday I cleaned and reorganized my kitchen pantry. I bought Oxo air tight containers so hopefully I will never have another moth problem. This project made me gleeful.  I'm such a strongly visual person. The order and uniformity appeal to me.  My husband finds it humorous. It is definitely his influence that I now embrace order and uniformity. Probably not as much as he would like (he's a chemical engineer) but then again, he did marry me.

"Quilt Me a Story" Returns

After more than a year of travel, one of my quilts returned home on Friday. It was part of the 2008 Breaking Traditions Art Quilt exhibit With One Voice which raised $1,085 for the American Cancer Society.The amazing Lynn Krawczyk curates and organizes this annual exhibit (new theme each year). I do want to thank Lynn for all of her hard work and dedication. Ninety-three artists created 12 inch square quilts for With One Voice. The theme was based on- "From the next door neighbor who helped to shovel your walk, to the organizations built solely on the purpose of serving those in need, to famous individuals using their influence to do good." I choose to showcase Quilters' S.O.S. - Save Our Stories, the oral history project of the Alliance for American Quilts. It was interesting that the quilt was returned on the day that the AAQ announced my leaving the project after more than 10 years of volunteer service. Often when a quilt returns after being gone, I either can't believe I've made it, no longer like it or rejoice on its return. I'm happy to report that I still like this quilt and rejoicing in its return.

Observing

I woke to a world encased in a thin layer of ice. I found myself constantly looking out the window at the trees and the way the sun was playing with the ice. Outside I ran into a neighbor walking her dog so I asked if she was enjoy our winter wonderland and pointed to the trees. I was dumbfounded when she confessed that she hadn't noticed. Her goal was to walk the dog as quickly as possible and off she went. For a moment, I was sad. Joy is so much better shared. 


Creative Everyday 2010 has been talking about shadows which did influence my decision to put myself dancing in my garden. Couldn't help giving myself funky socks. By the way, I hand pieced the flying geese and over dyed them to get the green I wanted. It was one of those "nothing ventured, nothing gained" moments that paid off.

Honoring Spoon River

One of the favorite pieces of art in my garden is "Spoon River" so even though my bent spoons are covered with snow, I had to include them. The green fabric is linen. I do love linen. I hand appliqued the spoon. Working on this quilt has actually gotten me quite energized and helping me find a wonderful peace of mind. I'm also already planning my next quilt. If you would like to see a photo of Spoon River, just go to the posts marked "Garden Quilt." It was posted last year on May 9th.